Page 74 of Let Me Say It Again

As though Red knew he was going to say something he’d regret, Red warned, “Remember your fucking manners, Nate. If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”

Okay, pretty sure everyone knew what they’d learned in preschool, but apparently some people needed reminding. Nate was definitely one of those people. I just wasn’t entirely sure now was the time for it.

I placed a hand on Red’s bicep before hooking my arm through his. I’d say it was to piss off Nate, but I genuinely didn’t care if Nate’s anger was his undoing. I cared because I wanted Red to know he wasn’t worth it and that I was right here.

I already knew how that sounded, but it was friendly. Red and I had grown to be friends, right? Well, I was helping a friend out.

Nate’s expression softened slightly as a roar of laughter erupted from him, the sound so boisterous it sounded like it came from his toes. He was ridiculous.

“What’s so funny?” Red asked, his jaw twitching. “Is it the fact that you can’t figure out something nice to say to my fiancée? Because I don’t think that’s funny. I think that’s just plain pathetic.”

“Watch it,” Nate warned, a finger pointed directly in Red’s face.

Damn it, Nate, if I were you, I’d remove that finger before he—

Red moved as fast as a cheetah hunting his prey, grabbing Nate’s finger and squeezing it so tight, Nate’s knees buckled as he started to contort his wrist, giving it his best shot to pull away from Red’s grip.

I looked around, thankful there were no passersby. “Red, you’re going to break his finger,” I cautioned, glancing down at Tipsy who was sitting quietly, her head turning every which way. The dog must have thought this was a show. Unbelievable. And adorable. But this was definitely not the time for that.

Red didn’t break contact with Nate, his eyes practically boring through his head. He probably wished his eyes could shoot laser beams out of them.

He loosened his grip but still kept a firm grasp on Nate’s finger.

Nate harrumphed. “You think you can make it look like you’re this cute couple, but she just can’t help it”—he gave me a once-over with a filthy, and ugly, look—“she sticks out like a sore fucking thumb.”

Red twisted his finger, holding it so tight Red’s own knuckle was turning white. “It’s ironic you talk about sticking out like a sore finger because yours is definitely going to stand out when I break it and you have to wear a splint.”

I squeezed my grip on Red’s bicep, and Red loosened his grip before letting go entirely. “The truth is, you’re not even worth it,” Red explained, shaking his head as though he pitied Nate.

Honestly, I didn’t blame Red.Ipitied Nate.

“Stay away from Red and me, do you understand me? If we run into each other again, by some unfortunate turn of events, walk away, and we’ll do the same,” I said, speaking on behalf of both of us.

Nate scoffed, holding his finger in his other hand. I’d feel bad for him if he wasn’t such an incredibly large ass. “You’re going to let her talk to me like that? You can’t even control your own. . . whatever the hell she is because I think we all know some shit’s up here.”

Red stepped forward and in front of me, passing the leash back to me so I held Tipsy. “Let me be perfectly clear. I don’t like to give third chances. I’ve already given you two. Get out of my face before I decide to rearrange it.” He ground his teeth. “Frankly, I’d be doing the world a fucking favor fixing that ugly mug of yours.”

Nate didn’t say anything, only held out one of his hands toward us and laughed. “You two deserve each other.”

When Nate was out of our sight, I walked in front of Red, my heart beating rapidly. “Hey, you didn’t need to do that for me.” I could hardly believe he would do that. Then again, this was Red, so of course he would.

He exhaled and softened his facial expression. “That was as much for me as it was you.”

And to think, I thought I was special.

All right, what was I doing?

Falling down the rabbit hole, that was what.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Jade

“I haven’t hadsex in two weeks,” Bianca said, heaving a sigh like there was an elephant on her chest, as she slipped into the booth. She was the last of us to show up to dinner, and if she wasn’t late because she’d been banging Knox, then what the heck?

It was the first time we went out for dinner just us sisters, but Maria thought it was a good idea, so here we were. Really, we hadn’t had much of an opportunity to get together lately, what with everyone doing their own thing and all. I might’ve been a newcomer, but even I knew that was abnormal for these women.

“We weren’t talking about sex,” Perla pointed out and sipped from her water glass. “But thanks for sharing.” Sarcasm from Perla was rare, but she should let it slip more often because it gave her an edge.

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